#7
BBC Monitoring
Russia's first lady urges children to seek happiness
within
Source: Russia TV, Moscow, in Russian 1100 gmt 28 Dec 01
[Presenter] From Tverskaya Ploshchad, Father Frost set off for the country's main New Year tree in the State Kremlin Palace, where around 6,000 children from every region in Russia have come together. A holiday performance awaited the small guests but first they were welcomed by the Russian president's wife, Lyudmila Putina, who congratulated the children on her own behalf and that of Russia's head of state.
Igor Korzhavin reports from the Kremlin:
[Correspondent] The main people in the Kremlin today were 5,000 children from various areas of Russia. The country's main New Year tree is in the State Kremlin Palace. The scene of serious state ventures was changed beyond recognition today ... There's a big book on one of the tables for writing requests for Father Frost.
[Small girl] I want peace on Earth and in Russia.
[Correspondent] And what would you like yourself?
[Small girl] For myself. I don't want anything.
[Correspondent] The main congratulations were heard in the auditorium itself, however.
[Lyudmila Putina, on stage] There are just three days left to the New Year, three days till that magic night when all our wishes come true. As well as the New Year presents on this tree, I'd like to give each of you a little bit of happiness. But sadly, I'm not a fairy. I'm only a human being and I can only tell you that happiness is in each one of us and, so, listen to yourselves and find that happiness in yourselves, give it to those around you, to your friends and relatives and be happy yourselves. I wish you an ocean of happiness in the New Year...
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